Extracts, fractionated coconut oil, Butch & shipping costs, Arnica questions, quest~long note

[Guest guest]

Hi Folks:

A great day to you all and thanks to all that wrote in about the Boston Jojoba

Company. Looks like from their letter, the new oil is going to be a bit better

grade. Hmmmmm

 

Sorry not to have mentioned that was a Fractionated Coconut for sale on ebay.

It's my understanding that the Fractionated Coconut oil is more stable, lasts

longer, has less smell, etc. Only have a small amount on hand that I've been

playing a bit with to infuse with flowers. Have one going with Hyacinth.

Whether that 5 gal drum is a good quality or not, hmmmm, guess you could ask the

seller and FNWL about their quality. I was surprised to see a 5 gal. drum of it

on ebay.

 

Shipping costs on ebay and not:

Hiya Butch: How's it going? Are you ready for your big trip? For Butch and

others out there...Folks are taking terrible advantage of shipping costs here in

the USA on ebay and other companies too. Naive as I am, it took a Postal

employee to tell me about it. On ebay, some sellers are lowering the prices of

their items due to lower ebay fees and then lowering the boom on the shipping

costs. Evidently, ebay and paypal do not charge a percentage on shipping.

So...definitely be leery of a price that is too good to be true, and make sure

you know what the shipping will be. All it takes is to be burned a few times

and then you'll be a bit more careful; but to be forewarned is forearmed.

This really hurts those of us that try to do actual shipping costs. Some

companies have always made a profit on their shipping costs.

 

Approximately two years ago the USPS decided that they weren't making enough

money on Priority Mail and began charging by zones with UPS as a template.

There went the same fee for items from the East Coast to the West Coast. Folks

can get better fees from FedEx, next is UPS, then the USPS~in that order. USPS

is using FedEx to do some of their airmail. We don't have a FedEx shipper here

per say. Am thinking about opening one if I can get the perfect bldg. A new

place opened a couple of years ago. UPS paid them to not ship FedEx ground,

only FedEx Express which costs an arm and a leg. Wonder if FedEx would do the

same? hmmmmm

 

My old supplier of carrier oils & heavy items told me to be sure and use East

Coast Companies on those heavy items due to costs. Was talking with her about

buying her soap supply & oils company when she was going out of biz. She did a

major amount of her biz on ebay and only cleared about $500 per month. It

wasn't worth the hassle~in the long run~doing all that heavy lifting for only

$500 per month.

 

For instance: If I buy herbs from a well known East Coast company instead of

their San Francisco home store, I can save probably $10-20 on shipping, plus it

will get here quicker. Just makes money sense/cents. Let them absorb the

cost of having those same herbs here on the East Coast. My heart sometimes

yearns to be living in the PNW.

 

Butch, if you are still looking for land in the SE either do it now or wait for

a year or so. Why? Costs have tripled in the last 6 months or so. Have

friends in FL that are amazed at what is happening there. Experts say the

bubble has to burst! We have 4 new subdivisions going in within a 10 mile

radius of us. The closest one had one acre lots beginning at $90K, lake lots

began at $225K & went up to $325K. They sold out of the $90K ones, opened up

more lots and the minimum now is between $225-$325+K. This may just price us

out of our area. We have 6.96 acres surrounded by large acreage, total privacy,

one piece of property off of the water, water access, a 1200 Sq FT cabin that

may never be finished, , and a 1700+ Sq Ft Manufactured home that may be up

for sale soon. Lots of wildlife. Anyone interested?

 

Hiya Chris:

Sorry not to have been clear on the Melissa~Lemon Balm~Extract. Always expect

folks to know what I'm talking about. I normally don't fool with doing

tinctures with water added, only pure alcohol extracts or infusions with oils.

Any ideas on the extracting of the Melissa into the same double infused one from

last year, anyone? Would you think that I would need to add more alcohol or

leave it the same? The more I think of this potential process, the better I

like it. Most of the supposed experts say the Lemon Balm extract is only 100%

for a year. I'm not one to argue with most thoughts on this, but I think that

dried Melissa probably has a shorter shelf life than some other herbs, not sure

on the extracts. Since I went to so much trouble to double infuse this one, the

idea of doing a triple infusion~might should make it a helluva extract, in my

thoughts. Input anyone?

 

Arnica Question: Anyone have thoughts on infusing dried Arnica that was

probably harvested in the Fall of 2004? Was thinking that most folks infuse it

while the bloom is fresh. Correct? Really need some infused oil & have seen

dried Arnica for sell. Anyone have any made up in jojoba? Fractionated coconut

oil? Sell or trade would work for me.

 

A most fragrant day to you all,

deb